When Bob Wheaton, president and CEO of Deer Valley, stepped to the podium at Wednesday’s Park City Chamber of Commerce/Convention and Visitor’s Bureau annual meeting, he made note of a stunning fact.

During Bill Marolt’s 18-year tenure as the CEO of the United States Ski and Snowboard Association based in Park City, the organization experienced prosperity the likes of which it hadn’t seen under previous leaders.

"He knew where the organization needed to go," Wheaton said in his speech. "Since 1924, USSA has won 94 Olympic medals. In Bill’s 18 years as CEO at USSA, that accounts for 70 of the 94 medals. Talk about results holy smokes!"

Because of Marolt’s vision, and his service to the Park City community, he was presented with the Myles Rademan Spirit of Hospitality Award, given annually to someone who displays "outstanding dedication to the community and vision for a successful resort economy."

"I am honored and delighted," he said. "I admire Myles and everything he’s done in town. If you look at the list of recipients, it’s a pretty amazing group it’s a real honor."

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Marolt said he couldn’t imagine a better place than Park City to help grow USSA into what it is today.

"I’ve lived here for 25 years," he said. "Over that period of time, you develop good friends on the personal side and, on the professional side, we’ve managed to create a really good business with USSA and have become an integral part of the community."

With his successor, Tiger Shaw, in attendance, along with several USSA vice presidents, Marolt said there’s no reason to think USSA won’t continue to improve in the coming years.

"We built a good organization and created a good foundation and direction," he said. "I feel good about what the future is. What you really have to do is keep your eye on the horizon and I think the organization will do that. It has a bright future."

Shaw agreed, saying he hopes to have a big impact on the Park City community as well.

"They are big shoes to fill Bill’s paved the way and done amazing things for the USSA and the community," he said. "My goal is to pick up that ball and run with it as far as I can."

For Shaw, the work is just getting started.

"A lot of people think that, when the snow melts, it quiets down [at USSA]," he said. "Our most intense time of the year is April, May and June, believe it or not, with all the planning things that go on."

With FIS Alpine World Championships in Vail in 2015 and Park City set to host Freestyle, Freeskiing and Snowboarding World Championships in 2019, there’s no time to waste in taking the USSA even further.

"That’s going really well," Shaw said about the 2015 championship preparation. "Vail’s doing a great job. They’ve put a tremendous amount of effort into it."

And when does planning for the 2019 World Championships start?

"About a year ago," Shaw laughed. "We’re super excited about 2019 here. With all three ski resorts behind it, we think we’re going to be able to host a wonderful event."

As for Marolt, he said he’s just trying to figure out what’s next for him and his wife.

"I’ve been officially retired for about three months and I’m trying to get used to that and figure out what I’m going to do in retirement," he said. "We’ve moved to Boulder, Colorado. My wife and I have spent a lot of time there and we’ve decided to split our time between Boulder and Scottsdale, Arizona."